Game Master

From FFXIclopedia, the free Final Fantasy XI encyclopedia

Game Masters (or GM for short) are the "Judges" of Vana'diel. The purpose of the Game Master is to provide players with an enjoyable gaming environment. They are responsible for monitoring and regulating the in-game environment to provide a fair, safe and enjoyable game play experience. Game Masters play a major role in rescuing player characters that have become stuck, take action against 3rd party tool users, and respond to user requests for issues such as lost items etc.

GMs support the players directly, via in-game interaction or the PlayOnline Viewer chat console. They also serve as a point of contact for issues that are best addressed by other Square Enix teams, and address player violations of in-game policies. This includes cautions, warnings, suspensions, and terminations. The Account Administration team must approve any severe disciplinary action.

The GM policy is a set of rules by which all GMs operate to ensure that the game proceeds smoothly for all FINAL FANTASY XI users. The GM policy can be found on the SE website.

Basic GM Rules

• GMs must always follow these rules in their player support role:
• Provide professional and courteous customer service.
• Convey as much information as possible to the players without disclosing any confidential information.
• Assist customers' needs to the greatest possible degree.
• Respond to players' questions and concerns in a consistent manner.
• Provide an enjoyable gaming environment for the players.

Organization

GMs, like Beastmen, have a rank structure that designates their place in the world: they receive orders through a "Producer" (currently Azagba), who manages the overall concept of the game. Reporting directly to the Producer is the "Head Game Master" (currently Sage Sundi), who manages all GM staff below him, namely the three major types:

• "Support Game Masters" take calls from the players and perform a variety of other support roles. All GMs can carry out the duties of a Support GM.
• "Senior Game Masters" (or SGMs), in addition to the Support GM functions, oversee all on-site GM duties. Players will receive the same type of service from either type of GM that assists them;
• "Lead Game Masters" (or LGMs), are responsible for all GM duties. Also, Square Enix staff members taking part in an in-game event use this icon. (The only GMs with this title are Azagba and Sundi);

Appearance & Equipment

Sometimes GMs will appear before players and speak with them. GM characters are unique in two ways: they have the text "GM" next to their characters' names, and their characters wear all-red armor. Both of these are characteristics of GMs in the game. GMs are always Humes. Their distinctive, red uniform consists of the following armor (all of which is designated "GMs Only" and cannot be obtained by players):

• Judge's Cape
• Judge's Cuirass
• Judge's Earring
• Judge's Greaves
• Judge's Ring
• Judge's Gauntlets
• Judge's Helm
• Judge's Cuisses
• Judge's Gorget
• Judge's Belt
• Judge's Shield (One-Handed Weapon Only)
• Judge's Sword
• Judge's Sword (Great Sword)
• Judge's Bow
• Judge's Arrow
• Judge's Rod
• Judge Minnow

Abilities

GMs have been known to demonstrate the following abilities:

• Complete, undetectable invisibility
• Teleportation of self and others to specific locations in an area
• Inter-area teleportation of self and others
• Perma-Flee (can be toggled on/off)
• Complete invulnerability (can be toggled on/off)

• While in Invulnerable mode, a GM will take damage but the chat window will say "(Blank) takes ## damage."
• Vrtra dealt over 2000 damage to the GM using Spike Flail. The GM's health bar did not change.

• Self-teleportation between Worlds
• Able to instantly kill any player or mob, however this supposedly causes world issues, so they just kill monsters normally.
• GMs are also completely unsearchable.
• Ability to read a player's chat log.

Account Penalties

All actions prohibited by the PlayOnline Member Agreement, FINAL FANTASY XI Software License Agreement and User Agreement & Policies may result in a penalty against an offending player's account by a GM. All penalties are recorded permanently. Repeat offenses will result in escalated penalties. All details regarding the penalty are sent through PlayOnline mail to the player. Sometimes characters are sent to Mordion Gaol (jail) where a GM will explain the details of the penalty to the offending character.

Account penalties are divided into the following categories:

1. Warning: Light infractions against policies will result in a warning from the GM. The offender is warned that his actions are in violation and instructed not to do so again.

2. Account Suspension: Severe infractions against policies will result in the GM suspending the offending account for a set period of time. Certain violations may result in an account being investigated by the Account Administrator for termination. Players whose accounts are suspended will be unable to use the PlayOnline Service for the duration of their suspension. Account suspensions are referred to as Penalty Boxes (PB). There are three types of PBs, 24 PB, 48PB, and 72PB. Which penalty is issued will depend on the severity of the violation and past record of the offending account. The numbers refer to 24, 48 and 72 hours after 0:00 (midnight) the day after the suspension is issued and signifies the duration of the suspension. Any account that receives a 72PB will undergo investigation by the Account Administrator for termination of that account. An account suspension will not be lifted until the Administrator's investigation is finished, and the suspension may exceed the standard 72 hours. After the investigation is over, the Administrator will send a warning to those accounts which are not terminated. This warning informs the offender that any further violations may result in the termination of his or her account and forfeiture of PlayOnline membership.

3. Ban: An account ban permanently removes PlayOnline membership and is carried out by the Account Administrator in the event of a severe violation. Any account that has been banned by the Account Administrator can never be used again. Mail will be sent to the address registered to the account informing the account holder of their forfeit of member status.

If a similar violation occurs after the first PB has been issued, the player's account may be penalized with a 72 PB and their account investigated for termination. Warnings are escalated in a similar manner. If a player receives a Warning for a particular infraction and then commits a similar action in the future, he or she will receive a 24 PB.

Certain minor infractions that are repeated over a short period of time may result in a heavier-than-usual penalty carried out against the offending account.

GM Hours and Languages

The GM team is up and running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. GMs have the ability to visit any specific world or zone, so that they can assist a player whenever or wherever necessary.

Because most players speak Japanese, English, French, or German, the GM team is prepared to respond in any of those languages.

Role in Vana'diel

Little is known about the true origins of the GMs. It is believed they inhabit Atomos, where they hone their skills to use on other Worlds. Some believe they are the heralds of Altana and Promathia, regulating balance over the world and its inhabitants. Others believe they exist to bring misery and anger upon the populace, who often throw curses at GMs due to their absolutism. Though adventurers have slain Vana'diel's mightiest gods, no one has ever defeated a GM, and justifiably so.

References

• Support Staff, Final Fantasy XI Official Web Site
• Online Manners, Final Fantasy XI Official Web Site
• GM Policy, Final Fantasy XI Official Web Site